System for percutaneously administering reduced pressure treatment using balloon dissection

Abstract

A reduced pressure delivery system for applying reduced pressure tissue treatment to a tissue site is provided. The system includes a manifold delivery tube and a balloon having an inner space. The balloon is capable of assuming collapsed and expanded positions. The system further includes a manifold having a plurality of flow channels. The manifold is disposed within the inner space of the balloon. A sharp tip is configured to be delivered within the manifold delivery tube to puncture the balloon.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method for applying reduced pressure to a tissue site with a reduced pressure delivery system, the method comprising:
 percutaneously inserting a tube having a passageway through tissue to place a distal end of the tube adjacent a tissue site;   inflating a balloon to dissect tissue adjacent the tissue site, thereby creating a void;   delivering a manifold having a plurality of flow channels through the passageway;   positioning the manifold in the void such that at least a portion of the flow channels are in fluid communication with the tissue site; and   applying a reduced pressure to the tissue site through the manifold.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the passageway comprises two lumens and the method further comprises fluidly connecting an inner space of the balloon to one of the two lumens and delivering the manifold through the other of the two lumens. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the manifold comprises a flexible wall surrounding a primary flow passage and adapted to be placed in proximity to the tissue site, the flexible wall including a plurality of apertures through the flexible wall and communicating with the primary flow passage, and the method further comprises positioning the apertures to face a bone of the tissue site. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the manifold comprises a flexible wall surrounding a primary flow passage and adapted to be placed in proximity to the tissue site, the flexible wall including a plurality of apertures through the flexible wall and communicating with the primary flow passage, and the method further comprises positioning the apertures to face an overlying tissue of the tissue site. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the manifold comprises a flexible wall surrounding a primary flow passage and adapted to be placed in proximity to the tissue site, the flexible wall including a plurality of apertures through the flexible wall and communicating with the primary flow passage, and the method further comprises positioning the apertures to face a bone of the tissue site and an overlying tissue of the tissue site. 
     
     
         6 . A method of administering a reduced pressure tissue treatment to a tissue site comprising:
 percutaneously inserting a tube through a skin tissue of a patient to place a distal end of the tube adjacent the tissue site, the tube having at least one passageway;   applying a first reduced pressure to an inner space of an impermeable membrane, the inner space containing a manifold having a plurality of flow channels;   delivering the impermeable membrane and the manifold through the passageway to the tissue site;   rupturing the impermeable membrane to place the manifold in contact with the tissue site; and   applying a second reduced pressure to the tissue site through the flow channels of the manifold.   
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the tube is a catheter. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the tube is a cannula. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein:
 the impermeable membrane includes a seal at a terminal end of the impermeable membrane; and   rupturing the impermeable membrane further comprises pushing the manifold through the seal.   
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the seal is ruptured by a stylet prior to pushing the manifold through the seal. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein rupturing the impermeable membrane further comprises:
 increasing the first reduced pressure to relax compression of the manifold;   puncturing a terminal end of the impermeable membrane; and   pushing the manifold through the punctured terminal end of the impermeable membrane.   
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the impermeable membrane is dissolvable in the presence of bodily tissue or bodily fluids. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the manifold further comprises:
 a flexible wall surrounding a primary flow passage and adapted to be placed in proximity to the tissue site, the flexible wall including a plurality of apertures through the flexible wall and communicating with the primary flow passage;   a blockage prevention member position within the primary flow passage;   a first conduit having at least one outlet fluidly connected to the primary flow passage to deliver reduced pressure to the primary flow passage;   a second conduit having at least one outlet proximate the primary flow passage or the at least one outlet of the first conduit to purge at least one of the primary flow passage and the outlet of the first conduit with a gaseous fluid during the application of reduced pressure.   
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the blockage prevention member is a plurality of projections disposed on an inner surface of the flexible wall and extending into the primary flow passage. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the blockage prevention member is a cellular material positioned within the primary flow passage. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the manifold further comprises:
 a flexible barrier; and   a cellular material attached to the flexible barrier, the cellular material including the plurality of flow channels.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 6 , further comprising percutaneously removing the manifold following completion of the reduced pressure tissue treatment. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the manifold is formed from a bioresorbable material that does not require removal from the tissue site following completion of the reduced pressure tissue treatment. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein applying a second reduced pressure further comprises creating fluid flow through the flow channels of the manifold. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein a fluid flowing through the flow channels is air. 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein a fluid flowing through the flow channels is liquid. 
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the second reduced pressure is less than a hydrostatic pressure of the tissue at the tissue site. 
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the second reduced pressure is less than atmospheric pressure. 
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the second reduced pressure is applied cyclically. 
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the tissue site includes hard tissue. 
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the tissue site includes soft tissue. 
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the tissue site is comprised primarily of bone tissue. 
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 27 , wherein the tissue site is located at a bone defect or fracture. 
     
     
         29 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the tissue site is comprised of tissue selected from the group of adipose tissue, muscle tissue, neural tissue, dermal tissue, vascular tissue, connective tissue, cartilage, tendons, or ligaments. 
     
     
         30 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the method further comprises guiding the manifold to the tissue site using a localization technique chosen from the group of endoscopy, ultrasound, fluoroscopy, auscultation, and palpation. 
     
     
         31 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the method further comprises dissecting the tissue site to form a void in which to position the manifold. 
     
     
         32 . The method according to  claim 31 , wherein dissecting the tissue site is accomplished by a technique chosen from the group consisting of balloon dissection, sharp dissection, blunt dissection, hydrodissection, pneumatic dissection, ultrasonic dissection, electrocautery dissection, and laser dissection. 
     
     
         33 . The method according to  claim 31 , wherein dissecting the tissue site further comprises: prior to rupturing the impermeable membrane and after delivering the impermeable membrane and the manifold to the tissue site, applying an increased pressure to the inner space of the impermeable membrane to place the impermeable membrane in an expanded position. 
     
     
         34 . The method according to  claim 31 , wherein dissecting the tissue site further comprises expanding the impermeable membrane by injecting a fluid into the inner space.